Wednesday, September 19, 2007 Special audit on CICC cost
BECAUSE of reported irregularities, the Commission on Audit (COA) is conducting a special audit of the expenses for the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).
Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol disclosed during the 888 News Forum yesterday that they are waiting for the result of the special audit.
He, however, clarified that he doesn’t know who requested it.
Apostol said a special audit, also known as a technical audit, is only conducted by the COA for projects suspected to be “irregular.”
“I came to know about it after a partial report reached my office,” he said.
The partial report only covered about P7 million of the total cost of the multi-million-peso project.
In a separate interview, Capitol consultant on information Rory Jon Sepulveda said he is not aware of the special audit but “any audit is always welcome.”
The CICC, the main venue of the Asean and East Asian summits last January, cost the Provincial Government P581 million, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia had reported last May.
The amount is less than the P637-million total allocation for the project.
In its report last August, COA found the construction of the CICC in order with reasonable contract prices.
But state auditors found it “irregular” when the Capitol released some P7.9 million as advance payments for suppliers of goods used for the CICC. They said this violates the Local Government Code.
Pending the result of the special audit, the anti-graft office’s investigation on the matter has been put on hold, Apostol said.
A fact-finding inquiry was launched after businessman Crisologo Saavedra sought the ombudsman’s help.
Saavedra earlier filed a complaint for plunder against the governor for allegedly misspending government funds for the CICC.
Also impleaded were Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr., architect Manuel Guanzon, Provincial Treasurer Roy Salubre, engineer Adolfo Quiroga, Budget Officer Emmy Hingoyon, project engineer Ernesto Biernes, Provincial Engineer Euly Pelayre, Provincial Attorney Mariano Martinquilla and Eduardo Habin.
Meanwhile, Apostol said that they are also “seriously” looking on the issue of car smuggling at the Cebu port.
He said that in all the investigations they are conducting, there will be no “sacred cows” and those found guilty will be charged in court.
“Transparency is the name of my game,” he said. (KNT)
